Measuring-rule.



PATENTED AUG. 7, 1906.

R. MOREHOUSE. MEASURING RULE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1906.

INVENTOR FAZPH MO/fEf/OUJ'E.

MNESSE @44 4)? ATTORNEY! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. RALPH MOREHOUSE, OF OFIJWEIN, IOWA.

MEASURING-RULE.

Patented Aug. 7, 1906. I

Application filed May 12 1906. Serial No. 316.504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH MOREHOUSE, residing at Oelwein, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring- Rules, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, which relates generally to improvements in rules, more particularly seeks to provide a simple, inexpensive, and convenient means for carrying a mechanics scratching point or implement usually employed for scratching or marking of points or lines; and it comprehends generally a rule member which may be and preferably is one of the hinged sections of the ordinary twofoot folding rule provided with a longitudinal pocket adapted to receive the scratchingpin and having means that forms a part of the said rule member for holding the said scratcher locked in its seated position against accidental displacement and in such manner as to present no actual projection when the rule is folded and which does not materially change the appearance of the rule or interfere with its regular uses.

In its more specific nature my invention embodies a folding-rule member longitudinally slotted from one end and having the slotted ends fitted with a metal cap of spring metal slitted longitudinally, whereby to form spring clamping members and apertured to receive point first the scratching-pin, the latter having such special construction whereby when pushed in the socket or receiving-space in the rule member it causes the metallic-cap member to automatically interlock with the scratcher.

Inits still more subordinate features my invention consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rule embodying my invention folded up. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the slotted end of the rule, showing the scratcher partly pushed into place. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the said end, the scratcher being pushed in place to the limit and with the opposite gri per-faces of the metallic cap frictionally locking the said scratcher in place. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slotted end of the rule with the cap removed. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the combined cap and locking member. Fig. 6 is a view of the scratcher. Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section on the line 7 7 on Fig. 3

In the practical application of my invention the rule A, which may be and preferably is the ordinary two-foot folding rule, has one end cut off about half an inch, and the said end is recessed longitudinally to form the receiving-slot a, in which the body of the marking or scratching pin is fitted when not in use, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, from which it will be seen the bifurcated end a a of the rule fits in the bifurcated top and bottom extensions l0 of the combined reinforce and ca plate 10, the main or body portion of whic forms the continuation of the slotted rule end, the edges 10 of which are closed and flush with the edges a, of the said rule member, and the said extensions 10 are secured to the bifurcated ends of the rule member by the pins b1), as shown.

The cap-plate is formedof spring metal and has a longitudinal slit C in the plane of the slot a, and the said slit bisects the circular aperture of in the outer end 10 of the cap, whereby to provide opposing spring clamping edges 0 for tightly gripping the scratcher 12, which in my construction is of hardened steel, has an enlarged head 12 and has the neck portion 12 of a slightly-reduced diameter, whereby when the said scratcher is shoved into the slot at to the limit the edges 0 0 will close tightly against the neck l2 under spring tension, and thus firmly hold the scratcher in place.

The head 12* is of such ;a length equal or less than the projecting portion of the flat central hinge-j oint 16 to not present an additional projection that might tear the pocket when carrying the rule in the pocket.

By forming the scratcher-body with the reduced neck and making the cap in the nature of a s ring-clamp in the manner shown and descri ed the scratcher can be instantly withdrawn for use and readily replaced and securely held from becoming lost or misplaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A rule having a member longitudinally slotted, a cap-plate secured over the bifurcated end of the said member, and provided with an aperture in line with the slot, said plate having means for automatically gripping the scratcher when the latter is shoved through the aperture into the slot.

2. The combination With the slotted rule end, the spring-metal cap secured to said end having an aperture in its end, and longitudinally slotted; of a scratcher-pin having a head and a neck portion of reduced diameter for cooperating with the slotted cap.

3. A rule having one of its ends slotted longitudinally, a spring-metal cap shaped to form a continuation of the said slotted rule end, and having parallel extensions that fit over the bifurcated end of the rule member and are secured thereto, the said cap having -a central aperture in its outer end, and having the said apertured end and the upper and lower portions formed with a longitudinal set forth.

RALPH MOREHOUSE. Witnesses:

L. J. DOCTOR, C. B. CHAMBERS. 

